First blood test 3 months after initial ADT (Lupron) injection

It would be interesting to know if your testosterone has also dropped. In rare cases, the drug does not work to reduce testosterone so it can be handy to know. Of course, if your PSA has dropped to undetectable, it may not be a factor to think about much but it’s always nice to know the answer.

I asked my oncologist to start testing my testosterone a year ango and she put in for the ultrasensitive test that takes three days to get an answer. I may ask her to stop it soon Since it’s the same every month.

From the time I decided on proton radiation (in late 2020), we’ve done full bloodwork (PSA, T, CBC, & CMP) at every blood test to this very day. (That’s been 20 PSA tests to date.) I get my results within an hour of completing the blood draw.

This was something that we discussed and agreed to during treatment planning. (All you probably have to do have T included in your blood test is to ask for it.)

Lupron MIGHT spike the testosterone for a while before it lowers it, so don't be scared of that if it happens, it's one reason my husband refuses Lupron, he's on Firmagon now- was supposed to just do one shot of Firmagon then Lupron but he decided to stay on that instead and the doctors let him because it does the same thing.
I don't remember the last time they tested for testosterone for my husband, but every month they do the PSA test... His initial PSA was almost 300 back in Feb! now it's 0.33
He's been on monthly Firmagon, then Zytiga pills and prednisone and chemo over the summer
(Stage 4 and all over his body!)

@brianjarvis
You should look into getting regular

ALT test for liver function
creatinine and calculated glomerular filtration rate to test kidney function

I’ve been getting them for eight years every month.

@jeffmarc I’ve been getting those tested as well.

ALT, Creatinine, & GFR are all included in the CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) test (along with 15 others).

@beaquilter
Anybody that is put on Lupron is supposed to be put on Casodex for two weeks before being given a Lupron injection. That prevents the testosterone Spike. Anybody that’s been on Fermagon has even one shot could switch to Lupron and they will not have a spike.

@jeffmarc
never heard of that before and that wasn't the case for my husband. this is what dr AI google says:
Casodex (bicalutamide) is
a prescription brand-name medication used as a hormone therapy to treat Stage D2 metastatic prostate cancer. It is a type of anti-androgen that works by blocking the male hormone testosterone from stimulating cancer cell growth.

And I know that my husband can switch to lupron anytime he wants now, he just doesn't and they are letting him do that as they do the same thing now, we'll see about 2026 as insurance doesn't cover Firmagon anymore but hopefully the doctor/hospital can help with that (i.e. getting insurance to pay for it getting pharmaceutical financial help) we'll see.

@beaquilter
The Casodex thing is well-known. If you were ever to go to an ancan.org Advanced prostate cancer meeting you would almost definitely hear Rick talking about it, when the doctor doesn’t do it, and gives somebody Lupron without it.

When I started Lupron eight years ago, they gave me Casodex for two weeks before I started it. This is something you could just do a search on and AI would confirm it.

It seems you are a quilter. Do you have that huge quilting machine? One of my clients wives, when I was doing computer consulting, had one in her husband’s law office basement. My wife has done a few small quilts, but she prefers to crochet. She does about 20 scarves a year and donates them to a charity for the homeless.

@jeffmarc
Yes I'm a quilter and long arm quilt too.
Just add a .com after my id and that's my website
Whenever my husband goes to get his monthly injection I bring a pile of quilts to donate to the cancer ward...at least 5-6 quilts each time.
I still have lots at home! I'm prolific! Make around 80-100 per year (baby or lap sized) it's my passion and keeps my mind off of Life!

My Testosterone tested 439 as a baseline after RP and before beginning Salvage Radiation Treatment (SRT) with short term ADT.
Following completion of SRT, I have had 9 quarterly uPSA and Testosterone tests.
My T was in the 300s the 1st yr of testing; low - mid 400s since.
At my 2 annual visits with the CRNP, when I asked about the T results, her reply was that the Dr wanted to monitor T and prefered levels in my range.
I infer that higher T is a greater risk factor for re-recurrence in my case (G 9 w/EPE) in my ROs view and perhaps would be a data point for additional treatment if/when needed.
And I am extremely pleased to report that all 9 uPSA tests have undetectable < .02, and I am accordingly thrilled and grateful.